F♭ Persian at a glance
Persian shows up in Persian classical music and any Western composition reaching for a Middle-Eastern flavour. Two augmented seconds make it instantly recognisable. Built on the root F♭, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where F♭ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | F♭ G𝄫 A♭ B𝄫 C𝄫 D𝄫 E♭ |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2m · 3M · 4P · 5d · 6m · 7M |
| Step pattern | H W+H H H W W+H H |
| Chords in the key | F♭(♭5)G𝄫A♭–C𝄫–E♭B𝄫mC𝄫–E♭–G𝄫D𝄫+E♭–G𝄫–B𝄫 |
Chords in the F♭ Persian scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
F♭ Persian on the piano
Improvisation drone · F♭
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano F♭ Persian uses three black keys (A♭, C𝄫 and E♭) and four white. F♭, G𝄫, B𝄫 and D𝄫 are the white keys you'd normally call E, F, A and C.
F♭ · G𝄫 · A♭ · B𝄫 · C𝄫 · D𝄫 · E♭
Try F♭ Persian on the virtual piano
Free, in your browser: play with the mouse, your computer keyboard or a USB MIDI keyboard. No sign-up.
F♭ Persian on the guitar
F♭ Persian - fr 0–12
F♭ Persian on the staff
Notes of the F♭ Persian scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F♭ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | G𝄫 | minor 2nd2m | 1 | |
| 3 | A♭ | major 3rd3M | 4 | |
| 4 | B𝄫 | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | C𝄫 | diminished 5th5d | 6 | |
| 6 | D𝄫 | minor 6th6m | 8 | |
| 7 | E♭ | major 7th7M | 11 |
What makes F♭ Persian different
The Persian scale (1, ♭2, 3, 4, ♭5, ♭6, 7) differs from double harmonic, listed here as Gypsy major, only in its fifth, which is lowered. It keeps both augmented seconds, ♭2 to 3 and ♭6 to 7, and without a perfect fifth over the tonic it sounds less settled than Phrygian dominant. Its half steps come in clusters: 3, 4, ♭5 is a chromatic run, and 7, 1, ♭2 wraps around the tonic. Tight clusters next to wide gaps are what make it sound ornamented rather than modal. On F♭, F♭ Persian has C𝄫 where F♭ Gypsy Major has C♭; every other note is shared with F♭ Gypsy Major (F♭ G𝄫 A♭ B𝄫 C♭ D𝄫 E♭).
How to use the F♭ Persian scale
The diatonic chords of F♭ Persian are: I♭5 = F♭(♭5), II = G𝄫, III = A♭–C𝄫–E♭, iv = B𝄫m, V = C𝄫–E♭–G𝄫, VI+ = D𝄫+, VII = E♭–G𝄫–B𝄫. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in F♭ Persian. Each one in the chord table on this page opens its own diagram and progressions.
Persian shows up in Persian classical music and any Western composition reaching for a Middle-Eastern flavour. Two augmented seconds make it instantly recognisable.
Practice tips
Lean into the two augmented seconds (♭2 to 3 and ♭6 to 7) as expressive ornaments rather than stepwise notes. Slow chromatic ornamentation around them sells the Persian sound.
Formula & step pattern
The F♭ Persian scale follows two augmented seconds and a flat second produce a distinctly Middle-Eastern colour (1, ♭2, 3, 4, ♭5, ♭6, 7). Step pattern: H - W+H - H - H - W - W+H - H. Intervals from the root: 1P · 2m · 3M · 4P · 5d · 6m · 7M. Memorising the formula lets you transpose the scale to any other root note quickly.
Where you will hear F♭ Persian
Start with the music described above: listen for F♭ Persian in it and transcribe a few short phrases by ear. It's the quickest way to learn how the scale sounds.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the F♭ Persian scale?
The F♭ Persian scale contains F♭, G𝄫, A♭, B𝄫, C𝄫, D𝄫 and E♭.
What is the formula for the F♭ Persian scale?
F♭ Persian follows two augmented seconds and a flat second produce a distinctly Middle-Eastern colour (1, ♭2, 3, 4, ♭5, ♭6, 7).
Is F♭ Persian a major or minor scale?
F♭ Persian is a persian scale. Two augmented seconds and a flat second — distinctly Middle-Eastern, dramatic and ornamented.
What chords belong to the F♭ Persian scale?
The diatonic chords of F♭ Persian are F♭(♭5), G𝄫, A♭–C𝄫–E♭, B𝄫m, C𝄫–E♭–G𝄫, D𝄫+, E♭–G𝄫–B𝄫.
Which genres use F♭ Persian?
Persian shows up in Persian classical music and any Western composition reaching for a Middle-Eastern flavour. Two augmented seconds make it instantly recognisable.
How do you play the F♭ Persian scale on the piano?
On the piano F♭ Persian uses three black keys (A♭, C𝄫 and E♭) and four white. F♭, G𝄫, B𝄫 and D𝄫 are the white keys you'd normally call E, F, A and C.
What is the difference between F♭ Persian and F♭ Gypsy Major?
On F♭, F♭ Persian has C𝄫 where F♭ Gypsy Major has C♭; every other note is shared with F♭ Gypsy Major (F♭ G𝄫 A♭ B𝄫 C♭ D𝄫 E♭).
How do I practise the F♭ Persian scale?
Lean into the two augmented seconds (♭2 to 3 and ♭6 to 7) as expressive ornaments rather than stepwise notes. Slow chromatic ornamentation around them sells the Persian sound.